Amid concerns about soaring pulse prices during the ongoing general elections, the Union government is taking steps to address the situation. Senior officials will be dispatched to assess the ground situation regarding stock disclosure, particularly for tur (pigeon pea) and urad (black matpe) pulses, beginning this week.
The government suspects that hoarding is occurring in anticipation of further price increases. The officials will visit warehouses, mills, and mandis across the country to ascertain the actual availability of pulses. The initial crackdown will target major pulse-producing states such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.
The government’s move aims to sensitize states, their machinery, and stakeholders about the issue. Officials will visit mandis, premises of millers and importers, and hold meetings with trade entities. The investigation will cover all pulses but will focus on tur, urad, yellow pea, and chana (gram).
Despite duty-free imports of yellow peas from December 2023 to June 2024, the government has observed a disconnect between the imported quantities and the reflected market prices. The production of chana, as reported by the agriculture ministry, is also insufficient to account for the price increases.
The government suspects either production issues or market manipulation by traders. Trade entities have declared stockpiles of 3-4 million tonnes, but this stock is not adequately reflected in the market availability. The consumer affairs department will investigate discrepancies between stock declarations and actual availability.
If discrepancies are found, the government may invoke provisions of the Essential Commodities (EC) Act, including stock declaration and stock limits, to take action against hoarders. Inflation in pulses remains high year-on-year, with retail inflation in pulses at 17.7% in March 2024. As of Sunday, the all-India average retail prices of chana, tur, and urad dals had increased significantly year-on-year, raising concerns among consumers.
